Mediterranean Freighter Voyages: Cargo Ship Travel 2026

Ultimo aggiornamento: 23 ottobre 2026

The Mediterranean is the perfect sea for a first freighter voyage: shorter trips, sunny ports and some of the most historic harbours in the world. Container ships, ro-ro ships and passenger-cargo ferries crisscross it every day. Here’s how to explore the Mediterranean by cargo ship.

Types of Mediterranean voyage

Type	What it is	Lunghezza tipica
Container ship loop	A ship calling at several big container ports, such as Valencia, Genoa, Piraeus or Malta	1–3 weeks
Ro-ro or con-ro voyage	Ships carrying vehicles and freight, sometimes with passenger cabins	A few days to 2 weeks
Ro-pax ferry	A ferry carrying trucks and passengers, with full passenger facilities	Overnight to 2 days
Northern Europe to the Mediterranean	Container ship from Rotterdam, Antwerp or Hamburg via Gibraltar	Circa 1–2 settimane

Coppia in barca a vela al tramonto — Short Mediterranean voyages are perfect for a first taste of freighter travel.

Popular ports

Spain: Valencia, Barcelona, Algeciras
France: Marseille (Fos)
Italy: Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Salerno, Gioia Tauro
Malta: Marsaxlokk
Greece: Piraeus, near Athens
Turkey: Istanbul (Ambarlı), Izmir, Mersin
North Africa: Tanger Med (Morocco), Alexandria and Port Said (Egypt)

Quanto costa?

At about €90–€150 per person per day, a one- to two-week voyage typically costs €700–€2,000 per person. Ro-pax ferries are much cheaper for short hops. See quanto costa un viaggio su una nave da carico.

Vehicles boarding a ro-ro ship — Ro-ro and ro-pax ships carry trucks, cars and passengers across the Mediterranean.

Best time to go

April to June and September to October: warm and usually calm
July and August: very hot, and busy ports
Winter: quieter, with occasional storms such as the mistral

Vedi il periodo migliore per viaggiare su una nave da carico.

Ideas for a Mediterranean trip

Northern Europe to Italy or Greece by container ship, then trains home
A ro-ro voyage from Italy to Spain
Combine a freighter with ferries for island-hopping in Greece or Italy
Continue through Suez to Asia. See Transito di navi da carico nel Canale di Suez.

Moving to southern Europe?

If you’re relocating, read trasferirsi in Italia, trasferirsi in Spagna e traslochi verso l'Italia.

More European voyages: Viaggi delle navi da carico nel Mar Baltico e exploring Europe by ship.

Domande frequenti

Can I take a freighter voyage in the Mediterranean?

Yes. Some container and ro-ro ships in the Mediterranean carry passengers.

How long are Mediterranean freighter voyages?

From a few days to about three weeks, depending on the route.

How much do Mediterranean freighter voyages cost?

Typically €700–€2,000 per person for one to two weeks.

When is the best time for a Mediterranean voyage?

April to June and September to October.

Which ports do Mediterranean cargo ships call at?

Commonly Valencia, Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Malta, Piraeus, Istanbul and Tanger Med.

Naviga nel Mediterraneo

Ask us about cargo ship voyages around southern Europe.

Scopri i viaggi in mare →

About
Latest Posts

Seguimi

Steve Joury

Consulente di viaggio Cargo at Cargoholidays

Appassionato di viaggi lenti e di mare. Steve conosce la maggior parte delle rotte di navigazione e le procedure per scoprire il nostro bellissimo mondo dal mare su una nave container. Ha partecipato a molti viaggi, da 7 giorni di viaggio in cargo a 140 giorni a bordo.